Vehicle tilting machine



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E. c. CLAUS VEHICLE T ILT ING MACHINE Filed Deo. 50, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheetl Apri! 5, 193g. E. c. CLAUS 23042 VEHICLE TILTING MACHINE Filed Deo.50, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 b21/@mfr April 5, 1938. E. c. CLAUS .2,113,042

VEHICLE TILTING MAcHINE v Filed Deo. 30, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 h 5 Z7"Z/ 104 @UGH L5M I JUNI pril 5, 1938. l E, C. CLAUS 2,113,042

VEHICLE TILTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 50, 1935 4 Sheewlzs-Sheeil 4 l di itsman mi Timm, "Y,

search tioom Patented vApr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLETILTING MACHINE Ernst C. Claus, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Moto- SwayCorporation of America, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisApplication December 30, 1935, Serial No. 56,657

tively to its springs', so that oil or grease injected arrows indicatingthe pressure air and the dotted 5 into the spring joints or knuckles ofthe springs line arrows indicating the exhaust air. and between theleaves of the latter is more ef- Fig. 9 is a vertical section of aself-closing valve fectively distributed. Rocking automobile jackswhich, admits pressure fluid t0 the motor of the 10 of this general typeare broadly known and quite master valve, 10 extensively used in publicgarages and lling sta- Fig. 10 is a perspective detail of a striker thattions, and among the objects of the invention opens the Se1f e1esingValve are: to provide a machine of the fluid pressure AS shown in Fig,1, the device employs two fluid operated type that, instead of elevatingone side pressure jacks designated as. a Whole by A and B l5 0f theVehicle and Simultaneously lowering the respectively, the motors ofwhich, when both jacks 15 other, as is the common practice, will elevateand are used are connected by lines of nom The lower one side, and thenelevate and lower the parte of these two, jacks are for the moet partqther and so forth Sm uns manner of o paj'ra' identical, and, forbrevity and convenience of demon better and more funx opens up theJoints scription,lwill rst describe the jackA appearing forteetrtm? bytheiubnfcat thll? 1th? kIFiW at the left of Fig. 1, and the parts ofjack :e which 2o me. o W erem-0ne 51de 9 t e ve .C e 1s ns ng areduplicates of parts of jack A will be identified while the other 1sdescending and Vice-versa, to by the same reference numerals with aprime provide a device permitting one jack only tobe t operated iflubrication is required on one side exlreeg/ i may be mounted either ina pit or only; to provide an improved device of the char- 2Q acterindicated that is wholly automatic and in nh anderhearnnwayhm .aplgsltlon 25 which the timing and length of each stroke may uta'. le saes with Eh opn fs o e Jac s may be very easily varied to suitconditions; and, gen- 1 mg y engge W1 e S1 e rame members of erany, toprovide an improved Vehicle rocking the automobile chassis frame, asusual in Jacks of jack for lubrication purposes. this type, and asindicated in Fig. 1. 30

Still other objects and attendant advantages of pescnbmg then the Jack A'n deslgnates the the invention will be apparent to persons familiarcylmder Shffll of its motor the upper .and lower with the art from thefollowing detailed descripends 0f Which are C10Sed by platespr heads Iltion, taken in connection with the accompanying and I2 these plates orheads bemg nglfly spaced drawings, in which I have illustrated onepractical byppposed rod' I3 and Cfmnected by {31e-rods '4- 35 andapproved embodiment of the principle of the Wlthm 51 16 CyllIlQleI l0 1Sa hOllOW plunger i5 invention, and Wheren formed with a suitably packedhead I6 (Fig. '7) Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device, broken atits 1 0We1 end LOCked t0 the upper end of out between its upper andlower ends, and partly plungel |5 as by a Set-Screw H (F1g- 4) 1S" the40 lower sect1on I8 of a tubular plunger stem, the 4,0 m Vertlcalsect1on upper section I9 of which telesco es within the Fig 2 is a' Sideelevation partly n.1 vert1ca'1-sec' lower section and is formedwithpspaced transtmn of the motor-0f tzhe zleft h-andl Jack of Flg' 1verse holes 20. Keyed to the upper end of the as ".lewed. on the 1.1m.of Flgtn l. 3 3 f lower section I8 is a collar 2|, and swiveled on Flg'3 1s a' Verhaal sect1on on e me o the collar 2| is a hand wheel 22having atrans- 45 Figs- 4 a'ld 5' versely apertured hub adapted toreceive a cross- Fg- 4 1S a' fragmntary eW partly m eleVa-'on pin 23engaged with any of the holes 20 to thereby and partly in verticalsect1on on the offset line Vary the effective length of the plungerSteun In 4--4 0f Fijg 5- a tapped cap 24 on the upper end of the stemFg- 5 1S 2 top Plan VleW 1n @FOSS-sect1on section I9 is entered thethreaded shank 25 of a 50 thIOllgh the plunger Stem 011 the line 5-5 0fsaddle 26 adapted to engage with the channel side Fig. 1. frame members(shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1)

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6 6 of the chassis frame ofthe car. A rough adjustof Fig. 1. ment as to height is first made by thepin 23, and Fig. 7 iS 9 Vertical Section 0n the lille 'l-l Oi then a neadjustment is eiected by the threaded 55 13 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle tilting machines, and more especiallyto machines adapted to facilitate and improve the oiling and. greasingof automobiles and other vehicles by alternately raising and loweringthe body of the vehicle rela- Fig. 2, with the cylinder and plungerpartly broken out and in section.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the two motors, showing the partsthereof spaced apart, with arrows showing the course of the air, thesolid line shank 25 of the saddle to initially bring the latter intocontact with the side frame member. To render the jack readily shiftableto the required position beneath the car, the bottom plates I2 of themotors are extended to provide axle bearings for trundle wheels 21 thatmay be cushioned by springs 28 (Fig. 7).

Describing now the valves, ducts, controlling members and other detailsof the jack motor, secured to or integral with one end of the base plate|2 is a casting 29 formed with an air supply duct 3|] (Figs. 3 and 8)leading into the bottom of cylinder l0, and with an exhaust duct 3| thatcommunicates with a short exhaust pipe 32 containing a throttle valve 33by which the speed of descent of the plunger |5 may be regulated'. Toone end of the casting 29 is attached a disc 34 formed with supply andexhaust ports 35 and 36 (Fig. 8). The port 35 communicates with a groove31 on the reverse side of the disc 34, and the port 36 communicates witha groove 38 on the reverse side of the disc 34, and both of the grooves31 and 38 are in continuous register with the ducts and 3| respectively.Extending through the block 29 and disc 34 is a rockshaft 39, fast onthe inner end of which is a reversing valve in the form of a segmentplate 40, having on its rear side an arcuate groove 4I through which thesupply port is alternately thrown into and out of communication with theexhaust port 36. The other end of the casting block 29 is hollowed toform a chamber 42 (Figs. 3 and 7) that houses a valve kick-over devicehereafter described that actuates the rock shaft 39 and reversing valve40.

Secured to the outer face of the disc 34 by screws 43 (which also securethe disc 34 to the block casting 29) is a valve chest casting 44, theform and structure of which are best shown in Fig. 8. The fiat top wall45 of this casting, in cooperation with a cover 46, forms a valvechamber 41 that is supplied with compressed air through an intake pipe48 equipped with a manually controlled cut-off valve 49 (Fig. 1). In thewall 45 are a pair of ports 56 and 5|, and a slot 52 extending betweensaid ports. Controlling the ports 50 and 5| is a sliding master valve 53that automatically directs the flow of compressed air alternately to themotors of the two jacks A and B. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the top ofthe valve 53 and the under side of the cover 46 have registering groovesin which lies a guide block 454 pressed downwardly by a spring 55,whereby the valve 53 is held to its seat and is movable only in arectilinear direction. Formed in the casting 44 below the wall 45 is acylinder 56 containing a piston 51 in which is mounted a stud 58extending through the slot 52 and intov a hole in the under side ofvalve 53. Compressed air entering the ends of the cylinder 56 shifts thevalve 53 through the piston 51 and stud 58.

The port 50 communicates with a descending duct 59 on the outer side ofcylinder 56, and this duct 59 leads into the chamber 60 (Fig. 3) of thereversing valve 40. In the under side of Valve 53 is an arcuate groove6|. In the position of the valve 53 shown in Figs. 4 and 6, compressedair is flowing downward through port 50 to the motor of jack A, and atthe same time the port 5I is covered by the valve so that compressed aircannot ow to the motor of jack B. In the reverse position of valve 53the port 50 is covered and compressed air flows downward through port 5|and a duct 62 (Fig. 3) to and through a pipe 63, hosev 64 (Fig. 1) andpipe 65, into the valve chamber 66 (Fig. 8) of the reversing valve 46 ofthe motor of jack B, this valve chamber 66 being formed between disc 34and a cover 66 and being functionally identical with valve chamber 60 ofthe reversing valve 40 of jack A. From this point on the air conductingand controlling devices of jack B are identical with those abovedescribed in connection with jack A, as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

Describing now the means for automatically shifting the master valve 53through piston 51 so as to alternately actuate the two jacks, in thecover 46 is mounted a short pipe 61 in which is a valve 68 (Fig. '9)normally held to its seat by a spring 69. The pipe 61 has a cap 10through which loosely projects the valve stem 1|. Referring to Figs. 2,5 and 10, on the top plate of the motor cylinder is a forked lug 12 inwhich is pivoted at 13 a striker member of the form best shown in Fig.10 and comprising an upright body 14 having an inclined cam surface 15on its upper end, an inwardly extending arm 16 mounted on the pivot pin13, and an outwardly extending flat striker arm 11 overlying the valveThe lower end of the cam 15 is undercut to form a narrow lip 18. Keyedto the plunger stem I8 is a collar 19 formed with spaced lugs betweenwhich is mounted on a pivot pin 8l a dog 82 that is normally held inupright position with its upper end in contact with the collar 19 by alight spring 83. On the lower end.' of the dog is a lip 84 that, as theplunger stem descends, wipes over the cam 15, and rocks the striker tothe dotted line position shown in Fig. 10, thus opening the valve 68.During the nal part of this movement the lip 84 of the dog slides offthe cam 15, and then the valve spring 69 instantly closes valve 68 andsimultaneously rocks the striker back to the full line position shown,in Fig. 10 wherein the lip 18 of cam 15 overlaps the lip 84 of dog 82.The closing of valve 68, of course, prevents the waste of compressed airwhile the plunger stem remains in the fully lowered' position. As theplunger stem rises, the dog tilts forwardly and. the lip 84l slips awayfrom the lip 18 without rocking the striker (the valve spring beingstrong enough to prevent this), and the light spring 83 restores the dogto upright position.

A pipe 85 (Fig. 1) connects the valve casing 61 above valve 68 with oneend of the cylinder 56 (Fig. 4) so that, the instant the valve 68 isopened the position of the master valve 53 is reversed, and the jack Bis put in operation. At the end of the down stroke of the plunger ofjack B the valve in casing 61 is opened.v and air ows thro-ugh a hose 86(Fig. 1) and pipe 81 to the other end of cylinder 56 (Fig. 4) againyreversing the master valve 53. It may here be explained'that the valvestem 1| has a. sui'liciently loose t in the cap 10 so that, after valve68 has re-seated itself, the compressed air in cylinder 56, after it hasshifted piston 51, can slowly escape around the valve stem while thecompanion jack is being operated.

The purpose of the groove 6| in the underside of the master valve 53 isto vent the valve chamber 66 at the end of the down stroke of jack B, atwhich time the valve 53 is shifted to the position shown in Figs. 4 and6. Compressed air trapped in chamber 66 when reversing valve 40' closesport 35 flows back through hose 64, pipe 63, duct 62, port 5|, groove6|, and slot 52 into and through a duct 88 (Fig. 4) in the wall 45, andthence to atmosphere through a vent pipe 89 (Fig. 8) This diltllilll'ill'lu et worum,

vent feature, although preferably used, is not indispensable, as themechanism is operative without it.

It remains to describe the automatic mechanism for actuating thereversing valve 40. "The valve kick-over device, before referred to, isa quick-action spring valve-reversing device best shown in Figs. 7 and8, and in its preferred form comprises the following parts. Keyed on therock shaft 39 is a yoke in the form of a collar 90 formed with upper andlower projecting arms 9| and 92. Also loosely mounted on rock shaft 39and straddling the yoke are a pair of like parallel arms 93 connected atone end by a pivot pin 94 and at their other end notched to form a pairof spaced fingers 95. The two arms 93 are also rigidly connected justinwardly of the pivot 94 by a cross piece 96 that lies between the arms9| and 92 of the yoke. The twin arms 93 form one limb of a toggle, theother limb of which consists of a rod 91 pivoted at one end on the pin94 and at its other end mounted in a shaft 98 that is mounted in theside walls of the chamber 42. A thrust spring 99 encircles the rod, 91being confined between the pivoted end of the yoke and the shaft 98. Foractuating this valve-reversing device in both directions, a vertical rodis slidably mounted in the top wall of the chamber 42 and in the topplate of the motor cylinder, its upper end projecting somewhat above theplate Secured in the collar 19 is a depending rod |0| having on itslower end a foot |02 (Fig. 2); and adjustably keyed to the rod |00 is anarm |03 apertured for the passage of the rod I0 I. A laterallyprojecting portion of the collar 'I9 (Fig. 5) not only supports thedepending rod |0I, but also has adjustably mounted therein a screw |04located directly above the kick-over actuating rod 00 so that it strikesand depresses the latter each time the plunger stern I8 approaches thelower limit of its travel. In the lower portion of the rod |00 lyingwithin the chamber 42 is a cross pin |05, the two projecting ends ofwhich extend between the fingers 95 of the arms 93, as clearly shown inFig. 8. The position of the arm |03 on the kick-over actuating rod |00determines the length of stroke of the plunger. If a relatively longstroke is desired, the arm |03 is set well up on the rod |00. If arelatively short stroke is desired, the arm is set lower down.

In operation, when the plunger has risen to such a point that the foot|02 strikes the arm |03, the rod |00 is raised, and the kick-over toggleis expanded and the instant its pivot 94 passes the dead vcenterposition; the spring 96 instantly re-acts causing the cross piece 96 tostrike the arm 92,

and thus rock the shaft 39 by a quick movement, thus actuating thereversing valve 40, which, as above described, shuts olf the passage ofair beneath the plunger and opens the cylinder to exhaust, so that theplunger begins its descent, the speed of the descent being regulated bythe exhaust throttle valve 33. Just before the plunger reaches the limitof its downward movement, the rod |00 is struck and moved downwardly bythe striker pin or screw |04, and this actuates the kick-over mechanismin the reverse direction, back to the position shown in Fig. 7, thus bya quick movement again shifting the reversing valve 40 back to itsformer position to cut out the exhaust and start another cycle ofplunger. movement. However, as previously described,. at the completionof a cycle movement of one plunger, the master valve 53 is shifted bythe opening of valve 68 by the striker arm '|'|l so that each of the@@dll HOOm jacks does not resume operation until the completion of thecycle of movement of its companion jack. The foregoing describes acomplete cycle of operation of one jack. Shifting of the master valve 53at the completion of the operation of one jack directs the compressedair through pipe 63 and hose 64 into the valve chamber of the otherjack, causing a complete cycle movement of said other jack while thefirst jack is at rest; said other jack being equipped with the samevalve mechanism and quick action operating means controlling the supplyand exhaust of the compressed air as the first jack.

If only one jack is required for use, the jack B alone may be employedby simply disconnecting hose 64 from pipe 63 and connecting it to asource of compressed air and, preferably, plugging the valve 61' toavoid waste of the air that would otherwise be used to actuate thereversing valve 53. It will be observed from Fig. y8 that in the jack Bthe valve 61 is mounted directly on the unit 34', and is provided with aport |06 in the face of the unit 34 communicating constantlyA with thereversing valve chamber 66; the advantage of this construction beingthat, if a customer does not wish a twin jack machine, he can befurnished a single jack machine such as the jack B, with the unit 34'and its valve 61 omitted, and the grooves 31' and 38 of unit 34transferred to the face of the unit 29. a

Manifestly, detail changes may be made in the structural features of theparts described without changing its essential character or departingfrom the principle of the invention; and hence I do not limit the latterto the structural details herein presented for purposes of illustration,but reserve such variations, modifications and mechanical equivalents asfall within the spirit and purview of the claims.

I claim- 1. In a vehicle tilting machine of the class described, thecombination with two jacks each including a iiuid pressure motor and areciprocable member actuated upwardly by said motor, of a master valveoperative to direct the pressure fluid alternately to the two motors,means actuated by each reciprocable member during its rising movementfor opening its motor to exhaust, and means actuated by eachreciprocable member at the final part of its downward movement foractuating said master valve in a direction to direct the pressure fluidto the other motor.

2. In a vehicle tilting machine of the class described, the combinationwith two jacks each including a cylinder and a reciprocable plunger andplunger stern actuated upwardly by fluid pressure beneath said plunger,of a master valve operative to direct the pressure fluid alternately 'tothe two cylinders, means actuated by each plunger stem during its risingmovement for opening its cylinder to exhaust, and means actuated by eachplunger stem at the nal part of its downward movement for actuating saidmaster valve in a direction to direct the pressure fluid to the othercylinder.

3. In a vehicle tilting machine of the class described, the combinationof two jacks each including a iiuid pressure motor having a reversingvalve controlling the flow of pressure fluid into and its exhaust fromsaid motor and a reciprocable member actuated upwardly by said motor, amaster valve operative to direct the pressure fluid alternately to thetwo motors, means actuated by each reciprocable member during its risingmovement for shifti-ng its reversing valve from supply to exhaustposition and duringits downward movement for shifting its reversingvalve from exhaust to supply position, and means actuated by eachreciprocable member at the final part of its downward movement foractuating said master valve i-n a direction to direct the pressure iluidto the other motor.

4. In a vehicle tilting machine of the class described, the combinationof two jacks each including a cylinder, a reciprocable plunger andplunger stem actuated upwardly by fluid pressure beneath said plunger,and a reversing valve controlling the flow of pressure fluid into andits exhaust from said cylinder, a master valve operative to direct thepressure fluid alternately to the two cylinders, means actuated by saidplunger stem during its rising movement for shifting its reversing valvefrom supply to exhaust position and during its downward movement forshifting its reversing valve from exhaust to supply position, and meansactuated by each plunger stem at the final part of its downward movementfor actuating said master valve in a direction to direct the pressurefluid to the other motor.

5, In a vehicle tilting machine of the class described, the combinationwith two jacks each including a fluid pressure motor and a reciprocablemember actuated upwardly by said motor, of a master valve operative todirect the pressure fluid alternately to the two motors, a fluidpressure motor for actuating said master valve, means actuated by eachreciprocable member during its rising movement for opening its motor toexhaust, and means actuated by each reciprocable member at the finalpart of its downward movement for admitting pressure fluid to the motorof said master valve, whereby to shift said master valve to a positionwhere it admits pressure fluid to the other motor.

6. In a vehicle tilting machine of the class described, the combinationwith two jacks each including a cylinder and a reciprocable plunger andplunger stem actuated upwardly by fluid pressure beneath said plunger,of a master valve operative t direct the pressure fluid alternately tothe two cylinders, a fluid pressure motor for actuating said mastervalve, means actuated by each plunger stem during its rising movementfor opening its cylinder to exhaust, and means actuated by each plungerstem at the nal part of its downward movement for admitting pressurefluid to the motor of said master valve, whereby to shift said mastervalve to a position wherein it admits pressure fluid to the othercylinder.

7. In a vehicle tilting machine of the class described, the combinationof two jacks each including a fluid pressure motor having a reversingvalve controlling the flow of pressure fluid into and its exhaust fromsaid motor and a reciprocable member actuated upwardly by said mofluidto the motor of said master valve, whereby to shift said master valve toa position wherein it admits pressure fluid to the other motor.

8. In a vehicle tilting machine of the class described, the combinationof two jacks each including a cylinder, a reciprocable plunger andplunger stem actuated upwardly by fluid pressure beneath said plunger,and a reversingvalve controlling the flow of pressure fluid into and itsexhaust from said cylinder, a master Valve operative to direct thepressure uid alternately to the two cylinders, a fluid pressure motorfor actuating said master valve, a collar fast on each plunger stem,means, including an element carried by said collar, for shifting saidreversing valve from supply to exhaust position during the risingmovement of said plunger stem, other means, including an element carriedby said co1- lar, for shifting said reversing valve from exhaust tosupply position during the downward movement of said plunger stem, andother means, including an element carried by said collar and operatingduring the final part of the downward movement of said plunger stem, foradmitting pressure fluid to the motor of said master valve, whereby toshift said master valve to a position wherein it admits pressure fluidto the other cylinder.

9. In a vehicle tilting machine of the class described, the combinationwith two jacks each including a fluid pressure motor and a reciprocablemember actuated upwardly by said m9- tor, of a master valve operative todirect the pressure fluid alternately to the two motors, a fluidpressure motor for actuating said master valve, flow ducts forcompressed air leading to opposite ends respectively of said last namedmotor, self-closing valves in said flow ducts, means actuated by eachreciprocable member during its rising movement for opening its motor toexhaust, and means actuated by each reciprocable member at the nal partof its downward movement for opening the self-closing valve associatedtherewith.

10. In a vehicle tilting machine of the .class described, thecombination with two jacks each including a cylinder and a reciprocableplunger and plunger stem actuated upwardly by fluid pressure beneathsaid plunger, of a master valve operative to direct the pressure fluidalternately to the two cylinders, a fluid pressure motor for actuatingsaid master valve, ilow ducts for compressed air leading to oppositeends respectively of said last named motor, self-closing valves in saidflow ducts, a collar fast on each plunger, means, including an elementcarried by said co1- lar, for opening the associated cylinder to exhaustduring the rising movement of the plunger, and means, including anelement carried by said collar, for opening the associated self-closingvalve at the nal part of the downward movement of the plunger.

11. In a fluid pressure lifting jack, the combination with a motorcylinder, plunger and plunger stem, of valve mechanism controlling thesupply and exhaust of pressure fluid to and from said cylinder includinga valve chamber, means for conducting pressure fluid to said chamber,ducts leading from said chamber to said cylinder and to exhaustrespectively, a rockshaft, a reversing valve fast on one end of saidrock-shaft in said chamber controlling said ducts, a quick-action springvalve-reversing device operatively associated with said rock-shaft, andmeans actuated by said plunger stem for tripping said valve-reversingdevice into action at the upper and lower limits of travel of saidplunger stem.

12. In a fluid pressure lifting jack, the combination with a motorcylinder, plunger and plunger stem, of valve mechanism controlling thesupply and exhaust of pressure fluid to and from said cylinder includinga valve chamber, means for conducting pressure fluid to said chamber,ducts leading from said chamber to said cylinder and to exhaustrespectively, a rock-shaft, a reversing valve fast on one end of saidrock-shaft in said chamber, a quick-action spring valvereversing deviceoperatively associated With said rock-shaft, a reciprocable rod having across-pin for actuating said Valve-reversing device, and means carriedby said plunger stem for raising and lowering said rod at the upper andlower limits of travel respectively of said plunger stem.

v vnu 13. In a iiuid pressure lifting jack, the combination with a motorcylinder, plunger and plunger stem, of valve mechanism controlling thesupply and exhaust of pressure iluid to and from said cylinder includinga valve chamber, means for conducting pressure uid to said chamber,ducts leading from said chamber to said cylinder. and to exhaustrespectively, a rock-shaft, a reversing valve fast on one end of saidrock-shaft in said chamber, a quick-action spring valve-reversing deviceoperatively associated with the other end of said rock-shaft, avertically reciprocable rod having on its lower end a cross-pin foractuating said Valve reversing device, a collar keyed to said plungerstem, and adjustable means, including elements carried by said collar,for raising and lowering said rod at the upper and lower limits oftravel respectively of said plunger stern.

ERNST C. CLAUS.

